Chapter Text
'Serena! Oh, my darling Serena!'
I heard Melissa's voice full of longing and feelings, coming from behind the hedge that separated the driveway from our house. She was running towards me, wiping her hands on her yellow apron, as always. I started walking towards her, trying to contain the emotion that was growing inside me. After a while, our bodies met in embraces, and I couldn't hold back my tears. Haven't seen her for so long.
'Honey, I'm so glad that you are here already...' She hesitated.
'I'm so sorry.'
She pressed me even tighter, and I never wanted to leave her embrace, which gave me the warmth and security that I hadn't experienced in so long. At one point, I realized that not a single word had left my mouth yet. I felt stupid.
'I missed you so much. All of you. I’m staying here permanently.'
As I spoke these words, she squeezed me even tighter and we stood there for a while, crying with happiness and sorrow at the same time. That's life, I guess so.
'Alessio! Alessio!' she shouted into the ether. Oh, how much I’ve missed Alessio.
'Serena’s here! She needs your help. Take her luggage from the car to her room. I'm going to the kitchen, I'll see you there, honey. I'll heat your minestrone and ragù, you must be hungry.' she said, and I cupped her face in my hands, wiping tear-wet cheeks with my thumbs. She looked back at it tenderly.
'Yes, I'll see you there. I can't wait, I'm starving.' I kissed her on the previously drained places. She rushed towards the house.
My room. Here, in Capalbio. How strange that sounded.
Alessio appeared in a moment, greeting me just as fondly. My family. Now it's the only one I have, I thought. We walked towards the car. We took out my luggage - two suitcases, one equipment case and a tripod. I asked him to take only the suitcases, I will take care of the equipment myself.
'Of course, love. By the way, you should take care of this car. Such a gem should be pampered!'
He pointed to my black old school Chevrolet Camaro. The fact is, I don't remember the last time I even washed it. I haven't had time for that lately. I smiled gently.
'We'll take care of it together, Alessio. We will have plenty of time.'
After he left me alone, I pulled cigarettes from my backpack. I lit one up, inhaling deeply in the smoke. I closed my eyes for a moment, turning my face towards the sun, trying to calm my breathing. Breathing and myself. The hot Tuscan sun warmed my body. I missed it so much. At one point, I opened my eyes, standing in front of the guesthouse. I saw a half-naked young man smoking a cigarette, just like me. Half-naked, because the only part of his body covered was his hips, which had a white towel tied around. He was staring straight at me, and when he noticed I opened my eyes, he smiled and nodded in greeting, without breaking our gaze connection. He was beautiful. Almost his entire body was covered with tattoos that did not reveal their shape from a distance, except for one I was sure of, a snake in the center of his chest. His chin-lengthed hair fell over his face as he rested his forearms on the railing. What a cinematic beauty, I thought.
I didn't look away from him until Alessio returned. He noticed that I didn't do anything with the equipment I was supposed to take to the room, so he did it for me. Before walking towards our house, I glanced at the place where the half-naked man had stood before. The balcony was already empty. I sighed slightly as I followed Alessio.
_
Damiano entered the room, a little intimidated by the whole situation he had witnessed from a distance. He felt like a peeper, revealing emotions of Melissa, Alessio, and that woman who could clearly be their daughter. He didn't know why he couldn't take his eyes off them. It all looked like a movie scene. This wonderful car appeared in the driveway, which got his attention, and a moment later this unique figure got out of it. When Melissa and Alessio showed up, he was able to observe. First, tanned skin of woman’s legs, which was actually glistening in the sun. She was barefoot. Can you drive barefoot at all?
His gaze traveled higher and higher, absorbing more and more details. The place where the hemline of her button-up summer dress met her full thighs was extremely intriguing. The dress tightened around her waist and breasts. Beautiful view. Her black hair was the same length as his. When he noticed this, he smiled. Maybe his was longer.
Now the woman was alone in the driveway. She lit a cigarette as he did, and turned to face him, her eyes closed. He relished the noble features of her beautiful face. At one point, he realized that he was being watched as well. Oh, she opened her eyes. He didn't want to show the embarrassment he clearly felt, so he smiled and nodded in greeting. They stared at each other for a moment. Who is she? What is she doing here?